Welch's return to lineup might have to wait a bit

CORAL SPRINGS — Noah Welch came into preseason camp in September determined to become one of the Panthers' top defenders.

But a shoulder injury and surgery halted Welch's season after just four games.

Now, with three games left, Welch is ready to get on the ice again, though coach Jacques Martin is still deciding whether to play him.

"We'll see. We have to decide what is best," Martin said Monday after practice at Incredible Ice. "He could play, but if he has more time it won't hurt and he'll be stronger next September."

Welch, 25, said that getting into a game would be the realization of a goal he set following the surgery.

"It would be good in the sense that I worked pretty hard to get into this position to be able to play," he said. "If I don't play, maybe that is what was supposed to happen."

Despite missing nearly the entire season, there have been some positives.

"When you look at all the work Noah has done off the ice, there is no doubt there has been some benefit. His skating is strong and his puck skills have improved," Martin said.

"I needed a good three, four months to work on my lower-body strength and I got to do that. That will help and, in the long term, in my career," Welch said.

When he wasn't working out, Welch was learning from being a spectator.

"I am a young guy and you can learn a lot from watching games. I took a lot of notes. It wasn't a vacation by any means. I tried to turn it into a positive and I think I did do that," Welch said.

Playing out the string

Martin said the Panthers may be out of the playoffs, but he will be watching players' efforts during the final three games of the season.

"It tells you about people. You know you are not in the playoffs but you have to play with some pride. You are still battling for position within your organization or, for some people, contracts for next year," Martin said.

Winger signed

The team signed free agent Andrew Sweetland, a left wing who played for the University of Maine this season.

"We are happy to get this kid in the organization. We feel he has some good skill," Martin said of Sweetland, 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds.

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Panthers at Thrashers

When/where: 7 p.m., Philips Arena, Atlanta

TV: FSN Radio: WAXY (790-AM).

About the Panthers: One more road win would be a franchise-record 19. In their past three games, they are 0-15 on the power play.

About the Thrashers: Atlanta played at Tampa Bay on Monday. It has allowed the most goals against in the NHL, with 268.